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October is Connected Educator month and #kinderchat has a blogging challenge: “Tell us YOUR story. Who are you when you’re not “Teacher”? If you had to describe yourself and your life WITHOUT talking about your job, what would you say?”

Ok. So my blogging of late has been pretty much non-existent. I tried to get going this summer, but being on strike for five weeks with a two month break in the middle of it all wasn’t really an environment that I was inspired to blog in. I don’t like to focus on the negative, and the strike was one of the most emotional, stressful things I have experienced. But now let me try to start fresh. I said I would be a part of #bcedbloggers and #kinderchat challenged me, too, so I guess I have no more excuses. I’ll blog about more important things soon…but for now, let me tell you a bit about myself.

Who am I when I am not a teacher?

I am a wife…Shawn and I just celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary this past August. We have known each other since Shawn was born (I robbed the cradle…we were family friends) and we got married eight months after we started dating. Shawn is my soulmate and the person I love to spend time with most of all.

I am a mother…David just started university and is pursuing an Honours degree in Physics on his road to becoming an astronaut. Matthew is in Grade 11 and loves break dancing and DJing. My boys actually like spending time with me and for that I am so grateful. I cherish every moment we can spend together because I know there will come a time when I won’t get to see them as much as I’d like.

I am a Christian…I am blessed to know Jesus.

I am a music lover…I love singing, dancing and being uplifted by good music of all genres.

I am a traveler…my favourite place in the world is Maui, Hawaii, and I had a wonderful holiday there this past summer. I have had many happy times in Disneyland with my family. We have cruised to Mexico and Alaska. We have relaxed by the pool in Palm Desert. I had the privilege of visiting Beijing, China, with David in 2011 when his school band played on the Great Wall. What an experience that was! And now I am looking forward to exploring the Caribbean on a cruise this coming Spring Break. Family vacation times are when we can turn off the phones (Shawn is required to carry his cell 24/7 for his job), escape and relax completely. I would not trade the memories we have created together on vacation for anything in the world.

I am a foodie…I love to cook, I am learning to bake, and having a meal with family or friends brings me great joy.

I am a golfer…sort of. Shawn and the boys often left me at home when they went golfing and I didn’t want to miss out, so I started golfing about a year ago. I don’t let the game frustrate me and I enjoy the times I can spend my time with my family chasing a little white ball down the fairway. Golf is a great way for me to connect with my dad and my brother, too.

I am a swimmer…I swam competitively from the ages of 8-16. I still love the water and swim as often as I am able. Water is soothing and restorative.

I am a reader…my favourite authors are Jeffrey Archer and David Baldacci, but I also love to escape into Sophie Kinsella’s world of funny female characters. Anything with a good story captivates me.

I am too often a couch potato…I really need to up my fitness routine. I have started being more aware of how much physical activity I am getting by wearing my Fitbit and now if my complete and utter exhaustion from school start-up would ease a bit I could get back to being more active.

I love to walk…I could solve the world’s problems on a nice, long walk in the sunshine.

I am an introvert…if you were to meet me at a social event I can easily fool you into thinking I am really comfortable, but it exhausts me and I need time and space to recharge.

Ok…so this is not a great piece of writing, nor is it a typical blog post from me, but hopefully these little snippets will help you get to know me a bit better. If relationships are the basis for all situations, perhaps I should have shared some of this with you before?

Choose 5 objects from around your home (NOT your classroom!) that tell us something about you: as a teacher or as a person. Take pictures of the objects and post them with captions. The real challenge here: the captions should be no longer than a regular tweet– that is, 140 characters.

My husband, Shawn…he is the one I love, my best friend, the one who makes me laugh. He is my soul mate!

My boys…teenagers now, but I love this photo of them enjoying Robert Munsch’s book, Love You Forever. They are growing up to be amazing men!

My favourite place, Po’olenalena Beach on Maui…photographed by my Dad and then painted by my Mom. It was a gift of love.

My stove and my cooking utensils. I love to cook, but I’m not so crazy about cleaning up.

Something other than teaching? Really? I’ve never seriously considered anything other than teaching as a career. Sure, I’ve joked about it, but deep down, teaching is it for me. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have “dream” jobs, so here is my dream.

I would LOVE to be a travel agent. You know the kind that get to go and try out the resorts, restaurants, activities and cruises so they can book them for their clients? I’m sure this is all made-up in my mind and it doesn’t actually exist as a real job, but I really LOVE helping people plan their vacations. Perhaps you may have read My Guide to Maui that I posted few days ago? That guide has come from many years of very careful “research.”

Sitting on many beaches to see which one to recommend is a job, isn’t it? I can only write about the BEST, so I must set out to find the best!

-Po’olenalena Beach on the island of Maui…my favourite spot in the whole world!

Exploring many hotels and condos is a must if I am to direct my clients to the ones most suited their needs and wants, isn’t it?

-the beautiful Bellagio fountains, Las Vegas

Eating is a huge part of every vacation, and it is only fitting that I have tried each and every establishment before I give it the seal of approval?

Seeing all there is to see at a destination thrills me…because I’m only doing this for my clients, right?

-my son and I on the Great Wall of China…such a surreal experience to have his band play ON THE WALL!

Looking for the best value in any aspect of a vacation really excites me! When friends or acquaintances ask for help in planning a trip, it REALLY is my pleasure to give you the results of my many years of research. I am happy to share my experiences and what has enriched my life and if I haven’t been where you are going, I enjoy researching what you could do on your trip… for future reference for my travels, of course!

For me, vacations are a time to disconnect from the world, to concentrate on your travel companions and your relationship with them, and to create memories to last a lifetime. In planning vacations, I anticipate the laughter, the adventure and the relationship-building that will take place. And even though I’m not really a travel agent, I hope that any suggestions I have given have been taken and used with the knowledge that it brings me joy to hear about YOUR travels and experiences. If even one tidbit of advice I gave can help you have a better vacation, then I have done my job.